Emergency advice needed re track day
#1
I am booked for the Easytrack airfield day this Wednesday (30th Aug). I have a MY99 with 8k on the clock.
For reasons I won't bore you with my plans to sort the brakes i.e put new pads in and change the fluid fell through.
This will be my 1st track day, so I doubt I'll be pushing that hard.
I am getting some Brembos soon so should I postpone and wait for the Brembos or go for it? I don't want to wreck the current brakes.
And if I do decide to go for it any sensible precautions?
Thanks
Simon
For reasons I won't bore you with my plans to sort the brakes i.e put new pads in and change the fluid fell through.
This will be my 1st track day, so I doubt I'll be pushing that hard.
I am getting some Brembos soon so should I postpone and wait for the Brembos or go for it? I don't want to wreck the current brakes.
And if I do decide to go for it any sensible precautions?
Thanks
Simon
#6
See you there, as has been said above just don't go "***** out" for too long. I also had a new set which have been held up so we can cruise round slowly in convoy as a mobile chicane!!
Cheers
Andy
(Redish black STI with Silver wheels and a really bloody noisy exhaust!!)
Cheers
Andy
(Redish black STI with Silver wheels and a really bloody noisy exhaust!!)
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#8
Just be sensible and dont nail the brakes, nurse them and you will be fine.
If you feel the brakes start to fade slow down, they will be worse the next time you try them.
Do at least one cooling down lap without using the brakes at all if posible, dont put the handbrake on when you come off track and dont sit with your foot on the brakes as that is what warps the disks more than anything else.
finally, let the turbo cool for a few minutes before you switch off the engine.
have fun.
john
If you feel the brakes start to fade slow down, they will be worse the next time you try them.
Do at least one cooling down lap without using the brakes at all if posible, dont put the handbrake on when you come off track and dont sit with your foot on the brakes as that is what warps the disks more than anything else.
finally, let the turbo cool for a few minutes before you switch off the engine.
have fun.
john
#10
Simon,
Excellent, I'll see you there. First thing to do is take octane booster - for me - I've not prepared properly, but will try and find some tomorrow.
Your brakes (4 pots on a 99 aren't they?) will be fine if you don't push too hard. Since it's your first day, you will be having enough fun learning more about the handling around the corners. As John says, a cool down lap is essential, but not always easy - at Abingdon, when you come off the track, just drive passed all the parked cars and keep going down an empty runway, while your brakes cool.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Excellent, I'll see you there. First thing to do is take octane booster - for me - I've not prepared properly, but will try and find some tomorrow.
Your brakes (4 pots on a 99 aren't they?) will be fine if you don't push too hard. Since it's your first day, you will be having enough fun learning more about the handling around the corners. As John says, a cool down lap is essential, but not always easy - at Abingdon, when you come off the track, just drive passed all the parked cars and keep going down an empty runway, while your brakes cool.
Look forward to seeing you there.
#11
Simes,
My MY96 is about 500 miles shy of a 34k service, lack of time foiled my plans to get it seen to. Last week went for a blast and the brakes didn't seem especially clever (even for a '96er), so now I'm a tad paranoid ! I'll try to take it easy tomorrow - if poss.
Trigg,
I've got 2 bottles of octane boost that have been sitting inside my spare wheel since I had my Link done. Can't for the life of me remember which brand it is though - d'oh ! May be of use ????
Neil - Green Mica UK with gold shoes.
My MY96 is about 500 miles shy of a 34k service, lack of time foiled my plans to get it seen to. Last week went for a blast and the brakes didn't seem especially clever (even for a '96er), so now I'm a tad paranoid ! I'll try to take it easy tomorrow - if poss.
Trigg,
I've got 2 bottles of octane boost that have been sitting inside my spare wheel since I had my Link done. Can't for the life of me remember which brand it is though - d'oh ! May be of use ????
Neil - Green Mica UK with gold shoes.
#13
Harj,
You don't need a speedo - I want to see the legendary WRX in action!
Andy,
Thanks, but I needed something that would get on with my cat. I managed to get hold of Wynn's Octan 10+ (prepare for another dumn question under general - a search has found no advice, good or bad).
Subverbal,
Bring your old stuff along, maybe useful (especially if someone warns me against the wynn's I've just bought before it goes in).
Stef,
I think I may try your braking points (the grass looks friendly enough).
You don't need a speedo - I want to see the legendary WRX in action!
Andy,
Thanks, but I needed something that would get on with my cat. I managed to get hold of Wynn's Octan 10+ (prepare for another dumn question under general - a search has found no advice, good or bad).
Subverbal,
Bring your old stuff along, maybe useful (especially if someone warns me against the wynn's I've just bought before it goes in).
Stef,
I think I may try your braking points (the grass looks friendly enough).
#15
I would have to say that the best track learning comes from deliberately going out for only five laps, Stopping and reviewing the situation objectively.
There are any number of people who will be dying to take you out and show you how to get into the mess they get into.
So... be careful who you sit with. Go for the best - not the most dangerous!
Take some time to review what they are doing compared to yourself, ask them what causes them to do whatever it is you are interested in.
You need local knowledge whenever you go to a new track.
The really important thing is to take on board the belief that track driving is about going slow enough...any fool can go too fast.
Don
There are any number of people who will be dying to take you out and show you how to get into the mess they get into.
So... be careful who you sit with. Go for the best - not the most dangerous!
Take some time to review what they are doing compared to yourself, ask them what causes them to do whatever it is you are interested in.
You need local knowledge whenever you go to a new track.
The really important thing is to take on board the belief that track driving is about going slow enough...any fool can go too fast.
Don
#17
Thanks for your advice everybody.
To update, I had to take today off work sick, and I was too, honest! I didn't want to take two days off this week, so rang Johnny, and apparently the day is not full so couldn't get refund. So I thought sod it.
So I'll see you there if you're going, just need to be gentle with those brakes, roll on brembos...
Triggaaar, unless you tell me otherwise in the next hour or so I'll bring a couple of spare Millers for you, catted version.
Cheers
Simon
To update, I had to take today off work sick, and I was too, honest! I didn't want to take two days off this week, so rang Johnny, and apparently the day is not full so couldn't get refund. So I thought sod it.
So I'll see you there if you're going, just need to be gentle with those brakes, roll on brembos...
Triggaaar, unless you tell me otherwise in the next hour or so I'll bring a couple of spare Millers for you, catted version.
Cheers
Simon
#18
Simon,
Thanks - I've come back from Shell, having topped up ontop of Wynn's octan stuff, so I can't change it now - but thanks. If you don't use the stuff, I'll buy it off you, otherwise I'll just order a load from Scoobymania, so I'm better prepared for Silverstone in a week.
Good news that you couldn't get a refund
Thanks - I've come back from Shell, having topped up ontop of Wynn's octan stuff, so I can't change it now - but thanks. If you don't use the stuff, I'll buy it off you, otherwise I'll just order a load from Scoobymania, so I'm better prepared for Silverstone in a week.
Good news that you couldn't get a refund
#27
Well I only went out with Harj in his Focus Diesel.
Wot a laugh, the more he threw it into a bend the more it understeered, but never felt like it would get out of shape or do anything nasty. I actually owned a focus and was a bit underwhelmed by it given all the hype cos it's handling was nowhere near as good as the Almera GTI I also had at the time, but I have to admit respect is due, seeing it in on the track I can see it's one well set up and safe handling road car.
Anyway, back to thread, in the am I wussed aroud fretting about the brakes, in the pm, thought sod it and had loads more fun, they only started to feel a bit spongy at the end of my last session. Obviously I still wasn't quite braking like Stef tho...
I'd definitely recommend the day for beginners, probably a bit boring for more experienced people (Stef, perhaps you can elucidate?).
Cheers
Simon
PS see thread in trackdays for pix
Wot a laugh, the more he threw it into a bend the more it understeered, but never felt like it would get out of shape or do anything nasty. I actually owned a focus and was a bit underwhelmed by it given all the hype cos it's handling was nowhere near as good as the Almera GTI I also had at the time, but I have to admit respect is due, seeing it in on the track I can see it's one well set up and safe handling road car.
Anyway, back to thread, in the am I wussed aroud fretting about the brakes, in the pm, thought sod it and had loads more fun, they only started to feel a bit spongy at the end of my last session. Obviously I still wasn't quite braking like Stef tho...
I'd definitely recommend the day for beginners, probably a bit boring for more experienced people (Stef, perhaps you can elucidate?).
Cheers
Simon
PS see thread in trackdays for pix
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